Guiding Principles for Data Access
Statement of Purpose
ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ recognizes the need for data as a tool in improving function and in making decisions that allow departments and individuals to do their work better and more effectively. It is our aim to provide access to data for that purpose as widely as possible, balancing that goal with the responsibility we have to comply with state and federal regulation and to protect sensitive personal data and overall privacy.
Values
These values, widely accepted and practiced at the College, govern the development of our guidelines for access to data.
Respect for privacy and confidentiality of those to whom the data pertains is essential.
To the extent that the law allows and with the condition that concerns for privacy and institutional risk be paramount, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ supports the sharing of data for the benefit of the College and its mission.
As an educational institution, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ recognizes and supports the critical role of data in learning and improving of the institution.
As a practice, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ sets the initial access to data as the minimum amount of data necessary for the person to perform their job, following the principle of least privilege.
Individuals and groups who are provided with data are trusted to be responsible stewards of information about the College and each other, and requests for access to data are approached from that position of trust.
Guiding Principles
In general, publicly reported data will be made readily available.
How the data are used is an important consideration in questions of access: what is the benefit of its use in relation to any risk?
Requests for data will be treated consistently and the process for determining access will be as transparent as possible.
Members of the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ community must acknowledge and regularly renew their agreement with data access and use policies.
Access to data requires training in its use and its analysis and understanding of its context.
Access to data may sometimes be denied, even when other conditions are met (e.g., if sample sizes are too small to protect privacy).
In instances where access to data is denied, we will aim to provide useful information or direction in other ways to address the underlying question.